Decision on shooting charges pending

Funeral for Jesse McElhinney scheduled for today

December 29, 2012

There is still no decision on whether charges will be filed in the shooting death of an Altoona teenager, city police said Friday.

Jesse T. McElhinney, 16, of 125 E. Third Ave. was fatally shot Wednesday by another teenager, a friend of McElhinney's, as the two played with a handgun the friend had brought to the house, his family said.

That teenager posted an apology to his Facebook page Thursday, addressing everyone affected by McElhinney's death.

The teenager, whose name is being withheld by the Mirror because he hasn't been charged, said he was sorry for what occurred and takes "full responsibility" for what he did.

"Jesse i love you buddy im so sorry things happened this way. ill see you in heaven buddy. i love you and rest in peace," he wrote.

The teenager also asked McElhinney's family to forgive him and asked for prayers.

Dean Sprankle, McElhinney's grandfather, said Thursday that what happened was a tragic accident and said Facebook had exacerbated the pain suffered by the family as rumors swirled about the circumstances of the shooting.

McElhinney's brother, Kenneth, told WTAJ-TV on Thursday that the family does not wish for charges to be pressed against the teenager, someone he described as like a brother and "a great kid."

Any decision on whether to file charges would likely not come until later next week, police said.

McElhinney's funeral is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Pleasant Valley Assembly of God, 801 Pleasant Valley Blvd. A viewing from 3 to 7 p.m precedes the service.